Actuating Device with Laterally Projecting Bearing Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating devices for triggering a flush in sanitary articles, such as toilets or urinals, protrude significantly from the wall surface due to their structural design, which is inefficient in terms of space usage.
Innovation Solution
An actuating device comprising an actuation plate and a bearing element with laterally projecting bearing tabs that are designed to minimize the projection beyond the wall surface, where the bearing tabs can be made of a stronger material than the bearing element and are securely fastened to provide robust support while reducing the overall height and protrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a support frame and actuating plate structure is used, then the actuating device can be assembled and supported on the wall, but the projection beyond the wall surface becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing element is divided into multiple bearing tabs that can be independently formed and positioned. Each bearing tab is a separate structural element that can be optimally sized and shaped to minimize projection while maintaining support functionality. This segmentation allows the structure to be more space-efficient compared to a monolithic support frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing tabs are designed to extend laterally from the bearing element in specific directions, utilizing the wall surface area more effectively. By distributing the support function across multiple lateral extensions rather than a single large projection, the device achieves better wall utilization and reduced overall protrusion.
2Strength
If the bearing tabs are made of stronger material, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device employs a composite construction where the bearing element is made of one material (e.g., plastic) and the bearing tabs are made of a different, stronger material (e.g., metal). This composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated unit, achieving high strength without requiring the entire device to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing tabs are specifically designed with different material properties than the main bearing element body. The tabs use higher-strength material only where mechanical support is critically needed, while the rest of the bearing element can use lighter, easier-to-manufacture materials. This localized quality differentiation optimizes strength-to-weight ratio and simplifies overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuating device (1) for triggering the flushing of a sanitary fixture comprises an actuating plate (2), which includes at least one actuating element (3) and at least one plate-side mounting structure (4), and a bearing element (5), which includes at least one bearing-side mounting structure (6). The actuating plate (2) can be attached to the bearing element (5) via the connection of the plate-side mounting structure (4) to the bearing-side mounting structure (6). The bearing element (5) comprises several bearing lugs (7) projecting laterally from the bearing element (5), with which the bearing element (5) can be supported against a wall surface (W) of a building wall.